Drank from a Zalto Den'ark Bordeaux glass. Use the Durand opener and the cork was pristine with little seepage.
Nose is a bit alcoholic, otherwise is a bit musty with raisin and other stewed fruit.
Palate is better. Faint cherry and strawberry fruit is framed against distinct cedar flavors that certainly seem mature, but not over the hill by any means. Finish is a bit astringent, slightly tannic, with the cedar flavors more prominent than the remaining red fruit. Nonetheless, a very good example of aged CA Cabernet.
I did not cellar this bottle, this bottle was purchased recently from the secondary market, and while good, it doesn't seem to live up to the other taster's recent experiences. Drink now.
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My last magnum. Slow ox'd for 30 min before putting the stopper in the bottle and taking to Capital Grille for Leon's 66th. Cork came out in 3 pieces at home with the last third pretty soft and saturated.
Still quite dark in the glass no hint of age or bricking. This wine is 13.5% alc and has aged beautifully. This is my 2nd magnum of this. The first one was a 97 last year, I think.
Enjoyed with Wagyu, king crab, lobster and mushrooms along with great company and friends/colleagues I have known for 35 years. Just a fantastic evening....the initial nose on this at the pnp and for the 1st hour was a 98. Perfumed, floral, sweet fruit and incense. Richard Arrowood was right when he said the climate on the Sonoma side was more suited to Cabs for aging. This magnum bottle had an easy 10 years left, maybe more. It's classic Cabernet, integrated, smooth, hint of mushrooms, leather, roses, and a cedar component on the finish. Only at 6 hours of air, late into the evening at home on the last glass did the fruit turn a tad blacker and denser. Again, this is a sign that the wine has not aged out, but can go for many years longer. Just fabulous.......
PnP. After 20 minutes in the glass it was ready. Enjoyed over next 2.5 hours. Blackberries, red fruits, eucalyptus, vanilla Oak. Very smooth. Beautiful.
Winapalooza VI; 9/2/2022-9/4/2022 (Atlanta): This was a signed magnum brought by Mark and the empty now sitting proudly in my cellar. This wine was unbelievable. Drinking so young you would never have guessed this was more than a decade old. Perfectly mature and integrated and a perfect match for our steak dinner. Mark’s note is more comprehensive but this really was a treat and lots of life left. I have 92, 97 and ‘99 entry level bottles from this producer and they have all been beyond expectations (except the corked one I guess..lol)
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10/20/2023 - SchlaepDog wrote: 92 Points
Drank from a Zalto Den'ark Bordeaux glass. Use the Durand opener and the cork was pristine with little seepage.
Nose is a bit alcoholic, otherwise is a bit musty with raisin and other stewed fruit.
Palate is better. Faint cherry and strawberry fruit is framed against distinct cedar flavors that certainly seem mature, but not over the hill by any means. Finish is a bit astringent, slightly tannic, with the cedar flavors more prominent than the remaining red fruit. Nonetheless, a very good example of aged CA Cabernet.
I did not cellar this bottle, this bottle was purchased recently from the secondary market, and while good, it doesn't seem to live up to the other taster's recent experiences. Drink now.
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10/18/2023 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 96 Points
My last magnum. Slow ox'd for 30 min before putting the stopper in the bottle and taking to Capital Grille for Leon's 66th. Cork came out in 3 pieces at home with the last third pretty soft and saturated.
Still quite dark in the glass no hint of age or bricking. This wine is 13.5% alc and has aged beautifully. This is my 2nd magnum of this. The first one was a 97 last year, I think.
Enjoyed with Wagyu, king crab, lobster and mushrooms along with great company and friends/colleagues I have known for 35 years. Just a fantastic evening....the initial nose on this at the pnp and for the 1st hour was a 98. Perfumed, floral, sweet fruit and incense. Richard Arrowood was right when he said the climate on the Sonoma side was more suited to Cabs for aging. This magnum bottle had an easy 10 years left, maybe more. It's classic Cabernet, integrated, smooth, hint of mushrooms, leather, roses, and a cedar component on the finish. Only at 6 hours of air, late into the evening at home on the last glass did the fruit turn a tad blacker and denser. Again, this is a sign that the wine has not aged out, but can go for many years longer. Just fabulous.......
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7/29/2023 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 94 Points
PnP. After 20 minutes in the glass it was ready. Enjoyed over next 2.5 hours. Blackberries, red fruits, eucalyptus, vanilla Oak. Very smooth. Beautiful.
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2/14/2023 - jrmorrison wrote: 95 Points
Still impressive, notes of berries, spices and tobacco. Smooth and long finish
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9/2/2022 - Decanting Queen Likes this wine: 95 Points
Winapalooza VI; 9/2/2022-9/4/2022 (Atlanta): This was a signed magnum brought by Mark and the empty now sitting proudly in my cellar.
This wine was unbelievable. Drinking so young you would never have guessed this was more than a decade old. Perfectly mature and integrated and a perfect match for our steak dinner.
Mark’s note is more comprehensive but this really was a treat and lots of life left.
I have 92, 97 and ‘99 entry level bottles from this producer and they have all been beyond expectations (except the corked one I guess..lol)
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)